Multipurpose pocket-type toothbrush and dentifrice appliance



June 2, 1953 A. D. VELODOTA 2,640,488

MULTIPURPOSE POCKET-TYPE TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTIFRICE APPLIANCE Filed Jan.2, 1952 Q 8 0 a ag I0 88880 0 0 56 Fig.4 4 S Anthony D. VeladolaINVENTOR.

BY Em Patented June 2, 1953 MULTIPURPOSE POCKET-TYPE TOOTH- BRUSH ANDDENTIFRICE APPLIANCE Anthony D. Velodota, Southington, Conn. 1Application January 2, 1952, Serial No. 264,509

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inpersonal useappliances, generally speaking, and has more particularreference to a pocket-size instrumentality of a multipurpose-type andhas more particular reference to a novel toothbrush and dentifriceholder or appliance. a

As the introductory statement implies, a holder having thereinselectively usable accessories, such as for example, a toothbrush andaccompanying dentifrice media is, of course, not new. It would appearfrom the past activity which has developed in connection with this lineof endeavor that there is a generally recognized need for a pockettypetoothbrush and an accompanying supply of a suitable dentifrice. Since,however, these combination devices are not in widespread use leads oneto believe that a wholly satisfactory and acceptable construction hasnot, apparently, been perfected. It follows, therefore, that it is theobject of the instant invention to structurally, functionally, andotherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing prior artdevices.

In carrying out the principles of the instant invention a simple,practical and economical appliance has been evolved and produced, thesame being characterized by effectively associated components, wherebyto provide a construction in which manufacturers, users and others willfind their respective requirements and needs amply l and satisfactorilymet.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the invention takes the formof acombination pockettype appliance characterized by a hollow barrel openat at least one end and defining a compartment, a readily attachable anddetachable implement having a head portion housed in said compartmentand a handle portion slidably but detachably keyed to said barrel, saidimplement being separable from the barrel by way of said open end, andclosure means for said open end, said closure means serving to securesaid implement to said barrel.

More particularly the invention has to do with a construction as statedwherein the mentioned implement is in the form of an especially constructed toothbrush, one which has a keying rib formed on the handleportion and wherein the rib is slidably fitted in a keyway-forming slotin the barrel and wherein the closure means end of the slot in a uniquemanner to retain the 1 Claim. (Cl. 132-84) toothbrush in the compartmentportion of the barrel. V

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals areemployedto designate like parts throughout the, views:

Figure l, is an elevational view of the novel multipurpose pocket-typetoothbrush and dentifrice combination or appliance constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but in section and with parts inelevation, said view being taken on the plane of the line 33 of Figure2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4 is a View in section and elevation in which the parts are shownin exploded association to clear up the construction of the features,the toothbrush beingomitted.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals and accompanyinglead lines, it will be seen that the aforementioned barrel is denoted bythe numeral 6. It is of cylindrical cross-sectional form and is made ofsuitable material, as are the other parts, and is substantially closedat what may be called the upper end in. the drawing. This end 8 is,however, provided with a multiplicity of ventilatingholes Illpermittingv the circulation of air to the chamber portion 1 I2 of thebarrel. The lower end of the barreldenoted'at I4 is open and isinternally screwthreaded as at It. The barrel is provided in one sidewith an elongated slot which forms a keyway, said slot being denoted atl8 and terminating downwardly of theupper end where it is closed as at20. The opposite end of the slot is open at 22 where it actually opensthrough the edge of the open end portion [4 of the barrel. This slotobviously serves to accommodate the insertable and removablehandle-equipped implement. More specifically this implement is a simpletoothbrush denoted by the numeral 24 and characterized by a suitablebristle head 26 mounted on one end of the handle 28. The handle is of alength greater than the length of the slot as brought out in the drawingand when thebrush is in place as shown in Figure 3 the head end of thehandle extends beyond the closed end 20 of the slot. This brush isunique, however, in that it is provided with what may be described 3 asa keying rib 30. This is formed integral with the handle and thelengthwise sides thereof are provided with opened grooves 32 whichcooperate with the edge portions of the slot permitting the thus groovedrib to be slidably keyed in the slot.

Novel closure means is provided for the open end portion I4 of thebarrel and the closure means is denoted, as a unitary structure, by thenumeral 34. This closure means is a hollow member or shell ofcapsule-like form as denoted at 36. One end is closed as at 38 and thisend is provided with a reduced screw-threaded neck 40 whosescrew-threads 42 secrew into the screwthreads I6 already described. Theopposite or outer end of the shell is open and is provided with internalscrew-threads M to accommodate a screw-threaded neck 46 on the domicalclosin cap 48.

The numeral 50 denotes a tube of dentifrice or toothpaste. The numerals2 denotes liquid dentifrice which may, if desired, be placed in theshell which, under the circumstances, constitutes a container. Thetoothpaste. tube 58 is contained in the compartment- [2 and held inplace by the closure means as is. obvious. It is to be particularlynoted, however, that when the screw neck to is applied the closedend'portion of the capsule or shell then bridges the open end of the slotand hence the closure means is capable of holding the toothbrush inplace and against displacement. To have access to the toothbrush it isof course necessary to unscrew the closure 34 as a unit. To have accessto the container portion of the shell 36 the domica-I cap has to beremoved.

The numeral 54 denotes a pocket clip which is attached to an encircling;member 56 which in turn is formed integral or otherwise joined with theupper end portion of. the: barrel.

The improved multipurpose. appliance or device herein revealedv isprimarily a handy and practical toothbrush but is even more advantageousin that it includes the dentifrice to be used in connection with thetoothbrush.

The general needs and purposes of an appliance in this category are wellknown and therefore only the special structural features and adaptationsare herein being put forth as the novel aspect of. the device.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunctionwithv the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the,reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the allegedfeatures of merit and novelty suificient to clarify the construction ofthe invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new Amultipurpose pocket-size personal use appliance comprising an elongatedhollow barrel closed in but perforated at one end and completely open atits opposite end, said barrel having; altering slot in one side, saidslot being closed at one end and said closed end terminating inwardly ofbut adjacent to said perforated end, the: other end of Said slot beingopen and opening through the open end of said barrel, an insertable andremovable toothbrush embdoying a combined handle and head, said headbeing provided with bristles, said handle and head. being of an-overalllength greater than: the length of said slot, one. endof the handleterminating in inwardly spaced relation to. the adjacent open end of theslot and the; free outer end, of the head projecting beyond the closedend; of the slot, said handle having a longitudinally extending ri'b.formed integra} therewith and provided with grooves along oppositelongitudinal edgesand defining a key, said key being removably keyed insaid slot, one end: of the key being spaced from the corresponding endof the head and the other end of the key terminating flush with thecorresponding end of the handle and therefore being spaced inwardly fromthe open end of the slot, and closure means for the open end of thebarrel, said closure means being removably attached to and covering saidopen end of. the barrel and bridging the open end of the, slot and thuspreventing dis" placement of he toothbrush from the barrel by way ofsaid slot, said closure means comprising a rigid liquid container closedat its inner end and open at its outer end, and an imperfcrato removablescrew-cap closing the open end of said container.

ANTHONY D. VELODQTA.

References, Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,274,116 Weber July 30, 1918 1,56,219- Enzer July 14,1925 1,653,987 Cliile Dec. 2'7, 192? 2,601,244 Boulicault June 24, 1952

